OmarKnows Holiday Picks 2024
🎁 A Curated Collection of Thoughtful Gifts, Tech Treasures, now in its 10th year! ✨
Welcome to the 2024 edition of the OmarKnows Holiday Gift List! I'm excited to share this year's carefully curated selection of items that blend innovation, practicality, and thoughtful design. Each recommendation has been personally tested or thoroughly researched to ensure it meets my standards for quality and usefulness.
New this year is a podcast version that you can listen to, courtesy of Google’s Notebook LM. I hope you enjoy listening to this 100% AI generated podcast.
And a very Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 to all my friends in the US!
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Previous OmarKnows Holiday Gift Lists:
Give the Gift of Giving
TisBest continues to be one of my favorite gift recommendations. This Seattle-based non-profit offers gift cards that allow recipients to choose which charity receives the donation. What makes this special is that 100% of your gift card amount goes directly to the chosen non-profit - if you purchase a $100 card, the full $100 goes to charity with no fees.
TisBest sustains its operations through optional donations from purchasers, making it a transparent and efficient way to give back. As a bonus, the gift card amount is tax-deductible for shoppers. If recipients don't allocate their gift card amount, TisBest can reclaim it to cover operational costs, ensuring nothing goes to waste.
Tech & Gadgets
Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses
These innovative glasses combine classic Ray-Ban style with modern technology. Featuring a 12MP ultra-wide camera and five-mic audio system, they're perfect for capturing moments and staying connected while maintaining a fashionable look. I've found them particularly useful for hands-free photography during outdoor activities.
These are super fun to take on vacations and trips. Here is an Instagram Reel that I made today with the glasses.
Ricoh GR III Compact Camera
A favorite among street photographers, this compact camera packs professional features into a pocket-sized body. With its 24.2MP APS-C sensor and sharp 28mm f/2.8 lens, it's ideal for those who want exceptional image quality without carrying a full-sized camera.
It’s also excellent for macro photography (taking close up photos of food!)
Note: there are two versions of this camera, The Ricoh GRIII that has an effective 28mm fixed lens and the Ricoh GRIIIx that has a 40mm fixed lens.
A good rule of thumb is 28mm for things, 40mm for people.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
The latest AirPods offer exceptional audio quality with improved Active Noise Cancellation (ANC). They feature a new ergonomic design for comfortable all-day wear and come with spatial audio for a truly immersive experience. Great for anyone who wants a top-tier audio experience on the go.
These are no substitute for high quality noise cancelling headphones for us on a plane. For that look elsewhere and get something like AirPods Pro 2 or Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones.
iPad Pro with Nano Texture Display
The latest iPad Pro models introduce the Nano Texture Display option, significantly reducing glare while enhancing visual clarity. Available in both 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, these tablets are perfect for creative professionals who demand the best display quality. The M4 chip provides desktop-class performance, making it a viable laptop replacement for many users. The Nano Texture finish, previously only available on the Pro Display XDR, makes a noticeable difference in reducing glare and maintaining color accuracy in bright environments.
Nintendo Sound Clock: Alarmo
This delightful alarm clock brings Nintendo nostalgia to your bedside. With 8-bit sound effects from classic games like Super Mario Bros. and The Legend of Zelda, it transforms your morning routine into a gaming experience. The bright, easy-to-read LCD display features retro-inspired graphics, while the customizable alarm settings let you choose your favorite game sounds. It's both a functional timepiece and a conversation starter for any gaming enthusiast.
RØDE Wireless ME Microphone
Perfect for content creators, this wireless microphone system combines professional audio quality with user-friendly features. The automatic gain control and instant pairing make it incredibly simple to use, while the built-in clip and compact receiver ensure mobility. What sets it apart is the exceptional audio quality and range, making it ideal for vlogging, podcasting, or any situation requiring clear wireless audio capture.
Oura Ring 4
Having owned every generation, I can confidently say the fourth generation brings substantial improvements. The sleeker design is more comfortable for 24/7 wear, while the enhanced sensors provide more accurate sleep and activity tracking. Battery life has been notably improved, and the new finish options look more like jewelry than tech.
I honestly don’t know why I wear it. I just like the idea of collecting my daily vitals. They might be useful in 10 years.
Travel & Accessories
Bellroy Venture Camera Sling 10L
After extensively testing this during a week in Japan, I'm thoroughly impressed with its versatility. The thoughtful design allows it to compress when carrying minimal gear yet expands to accommodate a camera body and several lenses. The quick-adjust strap and magnetic closures make accessing gear swift and silent, perfect for street photography. The water-resistant fabric has proven durable in various weather conditions.
Tom Bihn Bixi
This Seattle-made bag represents everything I love about Tom Bihn's approach to design. The vertical luggage passthrough is a game-changer for airport navigation, while the large water bottle holder addresses a common travel bag shortcoming. The organizational layout is perfect for modern travelers, with dedicated spaces for tech, documents, and daily essentials. The quality of materials and construction is, as always with Tom Bihn, exceptional.
Evergoods Element Travel Bags
These waterproof organizers have revolutionized my travel organization. The Drop-In pouch is perfect for passports and boarding passes, while the Flat Pouch excellently manages cables and chargers.
The 0.5L Civic Access Pouch has become my go-to for small essentials.
Butterfly SE 2-in-1 Compact Foldable Wireless Travel Charger
This ingenious charger has simplified my travel charging setup considerably. While it can only charge two devices simultaneously, it's incredibly compact design makes it the perfect travel companion. The folding mechanism is sturdy, and the charging speeds are excellent for both iPhone and Apple Watch. The built-in stand function is particularly useful for nightstand mode on the Apple Watch.
Anker Nano Charger, 100W
This compact powerhouse is very small. Despite being smaller than many lower-powered chargers, it delivers enough power to charge a MacBook Pro at full speed.
This is the fastest charger you can get in the smallest package.
Home & Office
Swarovski Annual Edition 2024 Ornament
Continuing our family tradition since 2001, this year's ornament maintains the exceptional quality we've come to expect. As someone who has collected these for over two decades, I can attest to their consistent quality and how they become cherished family heirlooms. Remember to purchase from authorized retailers, as counterfeits have become increasingly common on marketplace sites.
Grovemade Products
Every piece from Grovemade transforms a workspace from functional to exceptional. Their dedication to natural materials and thoughtful design is evident in everything they produce. I particularly recommend their desk shelf system, which has transformed my workspace organization. The wool desk pad adds both comfort and style, while their wooden keyboard wrist rest perfectly complements Apple's Magic Keyboard. Each piece develops a beautiful patina over time, making your workspace more personal and inviting.
I keep buying stuff from them.
Ilee Papergoods 2024 Letterpress Calendar
This seattle artist's handmade desk calendar has been a staple in my gift guides for good reason. Each month features meticulously letterpress-printed artwork with hidden Easter eggs that make checking the date a daily joy.
The paper quality is exceptional, and the craftsmanship shows in every detail.
Shogado Watoji Notebook
Discovered during my recent Japan travels, these Kyoto-made notebooks exemplify Japanese craftsmanship. The traditional watoji binding allows the notebook to lay completely flat, while the paper quality is simply exceptional - perfect for fountain pens with zero bleed-through. Each notebook feels like a piece of art, making writing feel more intentional and meaningful.
Outdoor Gear
High Above Gear
This Bellingham, WA-based company produces some of the finest cycling bags I've encountered. Their hip packs are particularly impressive, with perfect weight distribution and easy access to essentials while riding. Their new duffel bags and totes are cleverly made with a mesh fabric.
Fumpa Bike Pump
This electric pump has a precise digital pressure gauge and powerful motor. Its compact size belies its capability - it can quickly inflate road bike tires to high pressures with minimal effort. The rechargeable battery lasts for multiple inflations, and the digital display ensures accurate pressure every time.
Kitchen
Ratio Four Coffee Maker
After owning the Eight and Six models, the Four has become my favorite way to make a single cup of coffee. It perfectly replicates pour-over technique with precise water distribution and temperature control. The smaller footprint makes it perfect for limited counter space, while the quality of brew remains exceptional. The clean design and robust construction justify the investment for serious coffee enthusiasts.
Gozney Arc
While my pizza-making frequency has decreased since the pandemic peak, this oven represents a significant upgrade from my trusty Roccbox. The larger cooking space and precise temperature control make it versatile beyond just pizza - it's excellent for breads and roasted dishes too.
Clothing & Accessories
Begg & Co Wispy Superfine Cashmere Scarf
Despite the price increase, this remains an incredible scarf. The superfine cashmere is incredibly light yet warm, making it perfect for travel - as I discovered during this summer during early morning safari drives. The weave is so fine, yet the construction is surprisingly durable.
Northwest Knitting Company (NWKC)
Recently revitalized under new ownership (our friends), NWKC continues to produce exceptional knitwear. The 002 Crew and 003 Pullover have become staples in my wardrobe, offering the perfect balance of comfort and style. The materials are carefully sourced, and the construction quality ensures these pieces last for years. I recommend sizing up for a comfortable fit.
A unique quality of their clothing is that it’s made from 9.5 oz. Merino Dual Cloth - a 100% merino wool face with a cotton blend reverse. So if you find Merino “itchy” this is a good solve for that as your skin is against cotton.
Handvaerk Clothing
Their standard polos represent the pinnacle of refined basics. The Pima cotton they use is exceptionally soft, while the construction details - like the perfectly tensioned collar and reinforced seams – are quality.
They make a lot of “classic” cotton clothing worth checking out. I just think their polos are perfect. Wear your regular size.
Thank you for reading this year's holiday picks! I hope you've found some inspiration for thoughtful gifts that bring joy and value to your loved ones' lives. As always, feel free to share with friends and family, and I wish you wonderful holidays filled with meaningful connections and memorable moments.
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As always, I think I am done blowing my holiday budget and then I read your post and end up digging a deeper hole :/ You really should post these earlier. Grovemade has to be my favorite on this list.